The event, which lasts all though October, kicked off this past Saturday, with the very first St. Helens Halloween Parade, which saw locals and out-of-town visitors braving uncertain weather to watch as an assortment of witches, ghouls and costumed "Star Wars" characters paraded down Columbia Boulevard to the historic district, near the Columbia River.

But that was just the kickoff for what has become a cheerfully spooky tradition in St. Helens. Though the town has been celebrating "Halloweentown" for years, the event became a social media sensation last year, thanks in part to Kimberly J. Brown, who played the 13-year-old heroine Marnie in the Disney Channel movie, coming to St. Helens for the event.

This year's event looks to be even bigger, if the online buzz that's already begun is any indication. A post on the Cosmopolitan website has been shared widely on Facebook, with fans proclaiming their wish to travel to where "Halloweentown" was filmed.

We'll have much more about the real-life town of St. Helens and how it came to put on its annual "Halloweentown" celebration later this week on OregonLive and coming up in our A&E section. But for now, here are a few tips for fans thinking about visiting St. Helens and reveling in the "Spirit of Halloweentown."

1. Where's St. Helens? Glad you asked. The town is about 25 miles outside of Portland, reached via U.S. Route 30.

2. Kimberly J. Brown (aka Marnie) will once again visit St. Helens for "Spirit of Halloweentown" events. Brown will be in town on Oct. 8-9 for photo opportunities, the pumpkin lighting ceremony at the County Courthouse Plaza, a "Bloody Mary's and Bagels" brunch, and more. Tickets required for most events. Check details for Brown's appearances, and all "Spirit of Halloweentown" attractions, at the discovercolumbiacounty.com website.

3. Nothing says Halloween like "The Severed Head Tractor Ride," which offers, as the website says, "scenic tractor rides along statues of death on the waterfront." Only $2 per person!

4. Goth Weekend: Well, of course. This happens Oct. 22, and includes "Introduction to Tarot" classes, and the "I Scream Social."

5. If the Goth Weekend gets you in a Tim Burton mood, let it out at the "Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-a-long."

This is just a sample. Watch this space for more details about St. Helens and "Spirit of Halloweentown."